Bike MS: Team Sixcycle-RK&O Ride Report

Bike MS Report: Team Sixcycle-RK&O isn't just about racing bikes. Charity is at the heart of the Team Sixcycle-RK&O mission. It's why the team was a major fundraiser for the Tour of Litchfield Hills, donated funds to Hurricane Sandy Recovery and participated in a number of other 2012 charitable events. One such event was the 2012 Bike MS Ride that Team Sixcycle-RK&O's Dan Cleiman rode in on October 21st. His race report is below.

Bike MS Ride Report by Team Sixcycle-RK&O Dan Cleiman

“This ride is for you, Leah Markowitz!

Four summers ago, I was relaxing on my building’s roof top when one of my neighbors approached me with a huge smile and offered me an ice-cold beer. It was one of those really hot summer evenings and there was no way that I was going to turn down that offer! We chatted for hours and became fantastic friends. Leah is one of the most loving, caring, fun, and passionate individuals that I know. And, unless she told you, you’d never guess that she has Multiple Sclerosis.

MS is an autoimmune disease that affects over 400,000 Americans and approximately 2.1 million people globally. The National MS Society is one of the leading nationwide networks supporting research and service programs that enhance the lives of people with MS and their families. The organization raises funds through special events and campaigns, with Bike MS being one of the key events.

This year, Bike MS New York gathered over 5,000 participants, volunteers, and sponsors, raising over $2.3 million. I love Leah with all my heart and it is for her that I volunteer every year as a bike marshal. In 2012, I had the honor of representing Team Sixcycle RK&O and its sponsors. I proudly wore the team kit as I helped lead 5,000 people down the West Side Highway and through the Holland Tunnel... No traffic, with the sole exception of police cars and motorcycles guiding the way. What a thrill!

I encourage everyone reading this article to join Team Sixcycle RK&O next year for the 2013 Bike MS New York or for any one of the many charity rides that we proudly volunteer for.

And you can always donate to the National MS Society through the following link: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/donate/index.aspx

“This ride is for you, Leah!”

Bike MS Pictures